ISLAMABAD: Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem to strengthen and expand the India-Israel strategic partnership across technology, economy, security, and regional cooperation, according to the minister’s post on X on Wednesday.
The Indian minister held high-level meetings to strengthen India-Israel's strategic partnership.
The two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in technology, the economy, skills and talent, connectivity, and security, with Jaishankar expressing confidence that the partnership would grow from strength to strength.
Earlier, Jaishankar met President Isaac Herzog to convey greetings from Indian president Droupadi Murmu and prime minister Modi and to reaffirm India’s support for enduring regional peace.
He also met Israel’s Minister of Economy and Industry, Nir Barkat, to advance investment and innovation cooperation, and expressed confidence in the early conclusion of the India-Israel Free Trade Agreement.
In a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Jaishankar discussed terrorism, regional developments, and the Gaza Peace Plan, reiterating India’s commitment to combating terrorism and strengthening strategic ties across multiple domains.
The Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, also visited India last month.
According to an Indian media report, the visit comes amid preparations for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed trip to India.
Netanyahu was scheduled to travel to India earlier this month, but a phone call between him and prime minister Modi made it clear the visit would take place at a later date.
Bilateral investment agreement
Delhi and Tel Aviv signed a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) in New Delhi on Sept. 8 during the Israeli finance minister's visit to India.
According to India’s state-run Press Information Bureau, the agreement is expected to provide greater certainty and protection for investors, facilitate the growth of trade and mutual investments by ensuring a minimum standard of treatment, and provide an independent dispute resolution mechanism through arbitration.
India-Israel defense ties
A meeting on defense cooperation, co-chaired by Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense Maj Gen (Res) Amir Baram, took place in Tel Aviv on Nov. 4, according to PIB.
An MoU on defense cooperation was signed during the meeting to provide a unified vision and policy direction to deepen the already strong defense cooperation between the two countries, it said.
According to a Nov. 13 report published by a Washington-based think tank, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, in a deal reported last month to be worth $3.3 billion, the Indian Army is acquiring 425,000 carbine assault rifles from a joint Israeli-Indian venture.
Pakistan-India conflict
During the conflict with India, on May 8, the Pakistani military reported shooting down 25 Israeli-made drones used by India against Islamabad.
“The Pakistan Army, using their soft-kill (technical) and hard-kill (weapons) skills fully, has shot down 25 Israeli-made Harop drones,” Pakistan military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a press release issued on May 8.
